Hydraulically operated device



Dec. 1, 1959 w. M. OSBORN HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1955 m H TN m mm o W n O H W M 4 m? m VIHNANIW E014- 7 m wn 8m x A w M Dec. 1, 1959 w. M. OSBORN 2,915,048

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED DEVICE Filed April 13, 1955 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR wlLLlAM M. OSBORN ATTORNEYS United States Patent t 12,915,048 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED DEVICE William Morris Osborn, Denver, Colo.

Application April 13, 1955, Serial No. 501,092 1 11 Claims. 31. 121-93 The principal object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operated device of the character described in which the various elements are constructed and arranged to obtain a maximum amount of power or torque from the actuating fluid while insuring smooth and trouble-free operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wellbalanced unit of the type described which may be economically manufactured in small or large sizes from either plastic or metallic materials and which lends itself to mass production by pressure molding or die-casting.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a hydraulically operated device including a rotor with pivoted vanes wherein the vanes are controlled at all times to assure a positive drive of the device, and wherein the construction of the vanes and rotor permits the vanes to extend across the full width of the rotor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotor and vane construction which eliminates the necessity for providing pivot pins on the'rotor for the vanes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which a rotor having outwardly swingable vanes is employed, and in which novel cooperating portions of the rotor and vanes enable the vanes to be positively controlled with a minimum expenditure of energy. p

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotor for a fluid-operated device of the character described,

employing vanes swingable outward from the rotor periphery under positive control, and in which said vanes are provided with fluid passage means for pressure equalization on the outer and inner sides of the blades of the vanes at the start of their advancing or outward vmovement, thereby facilitating the outward swing thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will heapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the hydraulically operated device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

t Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the hydraulically operated device of Figs. 1 and 2 taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and showing the construction and arrangement of the rotor unit and an associated housing section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig.

3, and further showing the manner of mountingsaid rotor unit with respect to its associated housing elements;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view o'fthe inner side of one of the rotor housing sections of the device of Figs. 1 and 2, showing in particular the configuration of the cam track 2,915,048 Patented Dec. 1, 1959 for positively controlling the operation of the rotor vanes;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the rotor body of I the device of Figs. 1-4, the vanes beingremoved for purposes of clarity of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of an intermediate housing section of the device adapted to receive .a complete rotor unit; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a rotor vane for the rotor shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particu lar to Figs. 1', 2 and 4 thereof, a hydraulically operated device embodying the principles of the present invention is shown to comprise circular end housing sections 12 and 14, having disposed therebetween an annular or ring-like intermediate housing section 16.- These housing sections mediate section 16, it will be understood that they may be.

" .formed as studs and mountedin separate holes in said section. V g

The end housing sections 12 and 14 are provided with hubs 26 and 28, respectively, having aligned bores 30 and 32 in which a shaft 34 is journaled. The bores 30 and 32 are of very slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the shaft 34 so as to provide close operating clearance only, thereby aiding in the prevention of leakage of fluid from the device and rendering the provision of separate sealing means unnecessary. I

As one embodiment of theinvention, each of the housing sections 12, 14 and 16 maybe made of a suitable plastic material,- whereby fabrication of these elements by, molding, stamping, or the like, is facilitated. The choice.

of plastic materials for these parts is primarily dependent upon the structural strength and anti-friction properties of the commercially available plastics, and upon the choice of materials utilized for the movable parts disposed between the housing sections and in contact therewith. A super-polymeric amide type plastic, known by the trade name of nylon, has been found to be particularly satisfactory. Plastic materials of the polymerized acrylic acid ester type such as Lucite, or the polyvinyl type such as Vinal may also be used. It will be understood, however, that other suitable materials may be employed, either of diametrically opposed raised or inwardly projecting peripheral portions 40 and 42 of relatively shorter arcuate length, all concentric with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 34, and forming with the inner faces 44 and 46 (Fig. 4) of the housing sections 12 and 14, respectively, a rotor chamber 48. The raised peripheral portions 40 and 42 cooperate with a rotor to provide working chamhers therebetween for the rotor vanes, as will presently be described. The intermediate housing member 16 is further provided with a pair of diametrically opposed pockets I 50 and 52 substantially immediately adjacent one side of the raised peripheral portions 40 and 42, respectively,

These pockets are in fluid communicating relation with a pair of inlet openings 54 and 56, respectively, in end housing section 12. The latter openings are threaded to receive conventional fittings 58 and 60. On the other side of the periphery portions 40 and 42 from the inlet pockets 50 and 52 are a pair of exhaust ports 62 and 64, respectively. The exhaust ports62' and 64 may likewise be internally threaded to accommodate conventional pipe fittings66'and 68 (Fig. 2). H

Disposed within the rotor chamber 48, as. viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and mounted upon an enlarged portion 70 of shaft 34 to rotate therewith, is a rotor 72, which is of such diameter as to provide a close running fit with respect to the raised internal peripheral portions 40 and 42 of'the housing section lfi. The rotor 72 is fixed to shaft 34 by conventional keys 74 and has a periphery 76 which is also concentric with the longitudinal axis of shaft 34. As'will be noted in Fig. 4, the faces 44 and .46 of the end housing sections 12 and 14 have raised annular portions 45 and 47, adapted to snugly fit against the side faces of the rotor 72 with. operating clearance only, to further seal, the device against leakage while providing minimum surface areas in close frictional engagement. The raised portions 45 and 47 may have a thickness of, for example, about 0.001 inch, thereby providing this amount of clear- ;ance between other portions of the rotor and housing aces. Rotor 72 is provided with a plurality of recesses 78 (Fig. 6) around the periphery thereof the special configuration illustrated. Each of the recesses 78, comprises a notched portion 80 having a bottom face 81 of a curvature concentric with that of the periphery 76 of the rotor 72, and an internal'pocket or leg portion 82 extending in the same general direction as the notched portion 80, thereby providing a recess of general U-shape. The recesses 78 are also provided with a pair of arcuate portions 84 and 86, respectively, at the central portion of the U, adapted to form bearing surfaces for rotation of a rotor vane 88 mounted therein. The rotor vanes 88, as

is best shown in Figs. 3 and 8, are of generally U-shaped configuration and have blade portions 90 adapted to be snugly received within the notched portions 80 of the recesses 78, with the inner face 92 of said blade portion substantially in contact with the bottom face, 81 of the notch when the blade is in its inactive position. The

rotor vanes 88 are also provided'with a central portion 93 having arcuate faces 94 and 96 adapted to be snugly received between the arcuate bearing portions 84: and 86 of the recess 78, and with an extending inner leg portion 98, which is adapted to be received within the pocket 82 o'f'recess 78.

It willbe noted that the rotor blade 90, central portion 93, and leg 98 provide a generally U-shaped configuration. The pocket portion 82 of recess 78 is enlarged' at its outer end 99 to provide for arcuate movement of the leg 98 of the rotor vane88 about its pivotal point throughout a sufiicient angle that in one extreme (retracted) position thereof, the rotor blade 90 is snugly received within its cooperating notch 80 in the rotor 72, and in the other extreme (advanced) position, the rotor blade 90 is forced outwardly to establish working, line contact with the peripheral portions 36 and 38 of the rotor chamber 48 as the rotor rotates. A

As will be seen particularly in Figs. 4 and 8, the legs 98 of the rotor vanes 88 are provided with a shaft 100 having extending portions upon which. are mounted, as by means of ball bearings (not shown), a pair of rollers 102 and 103 which act as cam followers. The roller 102 extends outwardly from the leg 98 beyond one side face of rotor 72, and is adapted to be received within a cam track 104'formed in the internal'face 44 of the end housing section 12 (Fig. 4). Roller 103 likewise extendsoutwardly from the leg 98beyond the other side face of rotor 72 and is adapted to be received within a cam track 105 formed in the internal'face 46 of'the end housing section 14. The configuration of'the cam'tracks 104 and 105, as may best be seen in Fig; showing one of the identical end housing sections, is such as to provide cam portions 108 and 110, which act upon the rollers 102 and 103 of the rotor vanes 88 to force them inwardly just prior to-the time the vanes approach the raised periphery portions 40 and 42 of the rotor chamber 48 to enable them to be snugly received in the rotor notches while passing these peripheral portions and to then be substantially immediately but smoothly forced outwardly so that they may be acted upon by operating fluid from the respective inlets 54 and 56.

By reason of the utilization of a rotor vane 88 of the particular U-shaped configuration illustrated and a cooperating recess in the rotor 72 providing arcuate bearing surfaces for the central portion of said vane, it is unnecessary to provide mounting studs for pivotally aflixing such vanes to the rotor. Accordingly, construction of the rotor is simplified, and a vane is provided which extends across the full working: width of the. rotor to thereby take advantage of the full pressure of the operating fluid. Moreover, by reason vof the controlleg 98 extending in the same direction as the rotor blade 90, forces tending to displace the rotor vane from its pivotal socket as the rotor rotates are-minimized.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, means are provided in each rotor blade to permit fluid pressure acting on an end face 112 of said blade to be transmitted to the bottom 81 of the notch 80 to thereby facilitate outward movement of the blade. This arrangement also provides for pressure equalization between the fluid in the rotor chamber 48 and the internal portions of the recess 78 as the vane 88 is being swung outwardly to advance the same or inwardly to retract the same. Accordingly, each rotor. blade 90 is provided with a bore 114 which extends inwardly from the face 112 to a cross bore 116 to therebyestablish a fluid communication with the bottom 81 of notch 80. A portion of the rotor adjacent the end of; the blade face 112 is relieved as at 118 to provide fluidpassage means com-. municati ng from-the rotor periphery to bore 114 at the fully recessed position of the rotor vane.

In the operationof the device as a motor or for power transmission, the fluid under pressure is supplied to the inlet opening 54 and 56, and the exhaust openings 62 and 64 are connected to atmospheric pressure or to some other point of relatively lower pressure, the cam control means, 102 1 03 and 1 04 insuring that at least one rotor blade 90 will be. in full. outward position be tween each inlet and exhaust portat all positions, of the rotor 72, whereupon the blades 90(will be continuously acted upon by the fluid pressure to drive the rotor in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3; As each vane of a diametrically opposed pair approaches an exhaust port 62 or 64, it is smoothly closed under positive control of the cam followers 102103, permitting exhaust of fluid from the two exhaust ports while pressure is being applied in a balanced manner to the other two diametrically opposed vanes.

It has previously been noted that the housing sections may be formedof plastic material whereby they may be readily fabricated. The rotor 72 and the-rotor vanes 88 likewise may be fabricated of a suitable plastic material. Preferably the material of which the. rotor 72and rotor vanes 88 are fabricated is'ofa different material from that of the housing sections in order to reduce frictional losses. The rotor vanes 88 may also be of a different material fromthat of which the rotor 72 is constructed.

While a one-way drive unit has beenillustrated and described herein, it will be understood that a. two-way or reversible unit can be readily constructed from parts such as disclosed herein by removing an end; housing and substituting aplain disk therefor, and thenmounting a.

rotor assembly, annular ring and and housing in reversed relation to the retained parts;

In actual practice, the present device is capable of developing very high torque at the rotor shaft, even in units of small size suitable for actuating windshield wiper blades, etc., whereas, units of larger size are useful as infinitely variable power drives for vehicles, machinery, etc.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the parts of the hydraulic motor unit disclosed herein without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: a housing forming a rotor chamber; a shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses around the periphery thereof; vanes mounted in said recesses, said vanes having a generally U-shaped configuration including a blade portion and a leg portion spaced therefrom by a central pivotal portion, the blade portion and the leg portion extending in the same general direction in substantially parallel relation, said recesses having outer portions receiving the blade portions, intermediate bearing portions journaling said intermediate bearing portions of the vanes for pivotal motion so that said blade portion is swingable outwardly from said recess, and inner portions receiving said leg portions, said outer, intermediate, and inner portions of said recesses, and the blade, intermediate and leg portions of said vanes, extending the full width of the rotor; means in said housing providing working chambers for the blade portions of said rotor vanes; means for admitting operating fluid into said working chambers; and means cooperating with the leg portion of said vanes for positively controlling the pivotal motion of said vanes relative to said working chambers as said rotor rotates.

2. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: a housing forming a rotor chamber; a shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses around the periphery thereof; vanes mounted in said recesses; means providing working chambers for said vanes; said vanes each having a generally U-shaped configuration including a blade portion adapted to be received in an outer portion of its associated recess and to be swingable outwardly therefrom into said working chambers, a central pivotal portion, and a leg portion extending from said central portion within an inner portion of its associated recess in the same general direction as said blade portion in substantially parallel relation, said recess forming a bearing socket for said central portion providing for pivotal motion of said vanes, and an inner portion receiving the leg portion, said outer portion, bearing socket, and inner portion of said recess, and the blade, central and leg portion of said vane extending the full width of the rotor; means for admitting operating fluid into said working chambers; and means cooperating with the leg portion of said rotor vanes for positively controlling the pivotal motion of said rotor vanes relative to said working chambers as said rotor rotates.

3. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: a housing forming a rotor chamber; a shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses around the periphery thereof; vanes mounted in said recesses; means providing working chambers for said rotor vanes; said vanes having a generally U-shaped configuration including a blade portion, a central pivotal portion, and a leg portion extending from said central portion in the same general direction as said blade portion in substantially parallel relation, said recesses forming a bearing socket for said central portion for pivotal motion of said vanes, an outer portion receiving the blade portion, andan inner portion receiving the leg portion, said outer portion, bearing socket, and inner portion, of said recesses, and the blade, Central and leg ee tions of said vanes, extending the full width of the rotor; means for admitting operating fluid into said working chambers; a cam follower carried by the leg portion of each vane; and a cam track formed in an inner face of said housing and receiving therein said cam follower, said cam track and cam followers cooperating to positively control the pivotal motion of said vanes relative to said working chambers as said rotor rotates".

4. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: an annular housing section; an end housing section on opposite sides of said annular housing section and cooperating therewith to form a rotor chamber; means securing said sections in tightly assembled relationship; a shaft journaled in said end sections and extending through said chamber; a

rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses around the periphery thereof; vanes mounted in said recesses; means providing working chambers for said vanes; said vanes having a generally U-shaped configuration including a blade portion, a central pivoted portion, and a leg portion extending from said central portion in the same general direction as said blade portion in substantially parallel relation, said recesses forming a bearing socket for said central portion for pivotal motion of said vanes, an outer portion receiving the blade portion, and an inner portion receiving the leg portion, said outer portion, bearing socket and inner portion of said recess, and the blade, central and legportions of said vanes, extending the full width of the rotor; means for admitting operating fluid into said working chambers; a cam follower carried by the leg portion of each vane; a cam track formed in an inner face of one of said end housing sections and receiving therein said cam followers, said cam track and cam followers cooperating to positively control the pivotal motion of said vanes relative to said working chambers as said rotor rotates.

5. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: an annular housing section; a pair of end housing sections one on each side of said annular'housing section and cooperating therewith to form a rotor chamber; a shaft journaled in said end housing sections and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said end housing sections having raised face portions adjacent said shaft and confronting the side faces of said rotor with only close operating clearance therebetween, said annular housing member having diametrically-opposed raised inner peripheral portions providing working chambers therebetween, said rotor having a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for the full width of said rotor; vanes mounted in said recesses, said vanes and said recesses having a generally U-shaped configuration with one leg adjacent the rotor periphery and the other internally disposed within said rotor, the central portion of said recesses. cooperating with the central portion of said vanes to journal said vanes for pivotal motion of said vanes so that the other leg of said vanes is outwardly swingable into said working chambers; means carried by the inner leg of said vanes for positively controlling the pivotal motion of said vanes relative to rotation of the rotor; and means for admitting operating fluid to and for exhausting operating fluid from said working chambers to thereby act upon said rotor vanes and drive said rotor.

6. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: an annular housing section and a pair of end housing sections one on each side of saidannular housing section and cooperating therewith to form a rotor chamber; means secu1 ing said sections in tightly assembled relationship; a shaft journaled in said end sections and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said rotor chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the periphery thereof; a plurality of vanes mounted in said recesses in said rotor, said rotor chamber periphery being generally spaced from the rotor periphcry and having two diametrically opposed raised peripheral portions in substantial contact with said rotor periphery to provide working chambers therebetween for said rotor vanes, said rotor vanes and said recesses having a generally U-shaped configuration, the legs of the vanes and the recesses, respectively, being in substantially parallel relation, the central portions of which cooperate to form journal means for pivotal motion of said vanes, said recesses including an outer portion receiving an outer leg of said vane, and an inner portion receiving an inner leg of said vane, said outer portion, central portion, and inner portion of the recesses, and the blade, central and leg portions of said vanes, extending the full width of the rotor; one leg of said vanes being adapted to swing outwardly from said rotor into said working chambers; means associated with the other leg of said vanes to control movement of said vanes relative to said working chambers as the rotor rotates; inlet means for admitting operating fluid adjacent one side of said raised peripheral portions of said rotor chamber; and outlet means for exhausting operating fluid adjacent the other side of said raised peripheral portions.

7. The fluid-actuated device of claim 6 in which the inner legs of said rotor vanes are provided with cam followers and one of said end housing sections is provided with a cam track cooperating with said cam followers to positively control movement of said rotor vanes relative to said working chambers as the rotor rotates.

8. A rotor for a fluid-operated device, comprising: a cylindrical body having a plurality of recesses disposed in the periphery thereof, said recesses being of generally U-shaped configuration with one leg disposed along the periphery of the rotor and the other leg being disposed internally therein; a plurality of vanes of generally U- shaped configuration mounted in said recesses, the legs of the vanes extending in the same general direction in substantially parallel relation; the central portions of said recesses forminga journal for the central portion of said vanes and cooperating therewith to provide for pivotal motion of said vanes with respect to said rotor whereby one leg of said vanes is swingable outwardly from the rotor periphery, the internal leg portion of said recess being enlarged to permit limited arcuate motion of the inner leg of said vanes to thereby control the extent of said pivotal motion, the outer and inner leg portions of the recesses and vanes, and the central portions of the recesses and vanes, extending for the full width of said body parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; and means carried by said inner leg of said vanes and extending outwardly from a side face of said rotor for actuating said vanes.

9. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: a housing forming a rotor chamber; a shaft journaled in said housing and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses around the periphery thereof and extending for the full width of said rotor; vanes mounted in said recesses, said vanes having a blade portion and a leg portion spaced therefrom and extending in the same general direction, said vanes and recesses having cooperating central portions journaling said vanes for pivotal motion so that said blade portion is swingable outwardly from said recess; means in said housing providing working chambers for the blade portions of said rotor vanes, said rotor vanes being provided with channel means for fluid pressure equalization between said working chambers and a recessed portion of said rotor; means for admitting operating fluid into said working chambers; and means cooperating with the leg portion of said vanes for positively controlling the pivotal motion of said vanes relative to said working chambers as said rotor rotates.

10. A fluid-actuated device, comprising: an annular housing section and a pair of end housing sections one on each side of said annular housing section and cooperating therewith to form a rotor chamber; means securing said sections in tightly assembled relationship; a shaft journaled in said end sections and extending through said chamber; a rotor in said rotor chamber fixed to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the periphery thereof for the full width of said rotor; a plurality of vanes mounted in said recesses in said rotor, said rotor chamber periphery being generally spaced from the rotor periphery and having two diametrically opposed raised peripheral portions in substantial contact with said rotor periphery to provide working chambers therebetween for said rotor vanes, said rotor vanes and said recesses having a generally U-shaped configuration, the central portions of which cooperate to form means for pivotal motion of said vanes, one leg of said vanes being adapted to swing outwardly from said rotor into said working chambers, said one leg being provided with a channel for fluid pressure equalization between said working chambers and the recessed portion of the rotor adapted to receive said leg; means asso ciated with the other leg of said vanes to control movement of said vanes relative to said working chambers as the rotor rotates; inlet means for admitting operating fluid adjacent one side of said raised peripheral portions of said rotor chambers; and outlet means for exhausting operating fluid adjacent the other side of said raised peripheral portions.

11. A rotor for a fluid-operated device, comprising: a cylindrical body having a plurality of recesses disposed in the periphery thereof and extending for the full width of said body parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, said recesses being of generally U-shaped configuration with one leg disposed along the periphery of the rotor and the other being disposed internally therein; a plurality of vanes of generally U-shaped configuration mounted in said recesses, the central portions of said recesses and vanes cooperating to provide for pivotal motion of said vanes with respect to said rotor whereby one leg of said vanes is swingable outwardly from the rotor periphery, channel means in said one leg between an exposed face and a recessed face thereof, the internal leg portion of said recess being enlarged to permit limited arcuate motion of the inner leg of said vanes to thereby control the extent of said pivotal motion; and means carried by said inner leg of said vanes and extending outwardly from a side face of said rotor for actuating said vanes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 257,864 Gurd May 16, 1882 479,868 Wood Aug. 2, 1892 586,497 Isbell July 13, 1897 770,712 Craddock Sept. 20, 1904 805,162 Smith Nov. 21, 1905 805,163 Smith Nov. 21, 1905 834,819 Leopold Oct. 30, 1906 1,953,029 Smith Mar. 27, 1934 2,720,191 Vas Oct. 11, 1955 

